U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Casey Hayes, a Grand Island, Nebraska native and deputy commander of the 612th Theater Operations Group stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, poses during a break while working at the state-led, federally-supported Community Vaccination Center (CVC) at the former Roosevelt High School (CVC) in Gary, Indiana, May 17, 2021. Hayes is deployed as the 2nd detachment, 64th Air Expeditionary Group commander, which is a supporting unit for the vaccination efforts. Hayes said that this is the first time he has deployed to fight an enemy in the homeland, that enemy being the COVID-19 pandemic. During this deployment, Hayes understands the sacrifice of being away from family that U.S. Air Force Airmen and U.S. Army Soldiers have made to help fight COVID-19. “[Leaving] family behind is the most difficult thing,” Hayes said. “That’s where my heart goes when thinking about all the men and women down range.” With Memorial Day drawing near, Hayes keeps his current deployment in perspective in regards to the ultimate sacrifice that many men and women have made in the line of combat. “It is truly an honor to be able to reflect on Memorial Day and thank all of those who are no longer with us today,” Hayes said. “That’s where my heart and mind is and as long as I wear this uniform and even well after I take it off, I’ll always be thinking about those sacrifices that they made for that public service.” Remembering the men and women who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty is an important part of military life, but it is also significant in every Americans history and future. This is the time to honor and thank the military members and veterans that sacrifice and serve. U.S. Northern Command, through U.S. Army North, remains committed to providing continued, flexible Department of Defense support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency as part of the whole-of-government response to COVID-19. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Laurie Ellen Schubert, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)
| Date Taken: | 05.17.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 05.18.2021 09:59 |
| Photo ID: | 6648576 |
| VIRIN: | 210517-A-KV767-726 |
| Resolution: | 2597x3895 |
| Size: | 4.58 MB |
| Location: | GARY, INDIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 113 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
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